The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-12-31
Washington Letter.
Washington ID. G.. Dec. 10Th 1887


To the Editor Of Messenger.
Public business has made but slow
progress this week. a number of bills
were introduced in the Senate, but the
House is still in statu quo. The appint-
ment of the Committees has been delayed
somewhat by the Thoebe-C Carlisle contest.
The House, however, will get down to
work on the 9Th of January, and will
then dispose of business with dispatch.
The only day of any interest in the
House was on Friday, when Reed, OF
Maine, opposed the motion of Hatch, Of
Missouri, to adjourn from the 10Th of
December to January 4. The member
from Maine charged that the Democrats
were only delaying public business which
Mr.. Hatch and other members resented
and claimed that it would greatly expe-
dite business TO adjourn until after the
appointment of the Committees. Reed
also declared that his party was anxious
for an opportunity to vote to reduce the
tariff, and the Democrats replied that
they should soon have the opportunity,
and that when they had the opportunity
last session they had always voted against
the reduction. In the discussion the
Republicans virtually admitted that they
were agreed to vote for the repeal Of the
tobacco tax, and as the Democrats have
also likewise expressed themselves, that
one question may be regarded as settled.
1t is rumOred that Senator Chandler,
Of New Hampshire. is bitterly opposing
in committee the confirmation Of
Secretary Lamar as Associate justice Of
the Supreme Court. but there is not the
Slightest doubt of his confirmation. A few
of the Republican Senators may not vote
for it but many Of them will, and so
before many days the Secretary will be
a Judge.
An important paper laid before Con-
grees this week is an index Of Southern
claims and claims referred TO the Court
of Claims under the Bowman act. II
shows the total number Of claims referred
to COngress-the disallOwed and barred
cases-to be some 22,26S representing in
money value S60.15O Many of these
claims are just and supported by the best
evidence, but barred because not filed
within the time allowed by the act. II
is believed that at day not far distant
all these cases will be reOpened and sent
to the Court of Claims for final adjudica-
ton.
The POst-Oflics Department has been
the busiest Of all the Departments this
week. On Thursday bids were opened
for furnishing mailbag. locks, fasteners
and label holders. There were some Sc
bids submitted and they ranged from Ouy
cent up to fifty cents. They were mere.
ly for the use of the devices by the De
partment.. the Government to pay fOr the
material and manufacture. From 20,O0t
to $4,000 new bags are made for use il
the Department every year, and so the
patcntee of improvements in mail bag,
are all anxious to have their inventions
adopted. The present bag in use ha:
been used for 20 years past but the Gov
eminent is anxious to have better bag
and so. if any one OF the bags submitted
meets the requirements it will probably
be adopted. The award will not be made
before the 18th of next February.
The dead letter sale is now in progress
( and the Post Office Department will
realize many thousands of dollars from
the sale of jewelry and all other conceiv-
able articles sent through the mails ant
u never delivered for the want of a proper
address or orther cause. Many bargains
are obtained by the purchasers, an,
many instances can be cited where TO